Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.

What do you think about new SR 520 bridge plan?

A state legislative work group finally settled last week on a choice for replacing the state Route 520 bridge. Now, state officials are seeking another round of public feedback before submitting their recommendation to the Legislature in January.

The panel voted 10 to 2 in favor of replacing the existing bridge from Interstate 5 to Medina with a new six-lane bridge, which would include one HOV lane in each direction. It would feature a new Montlake interchange, similar to the current interchange, with a new bascule bridge across the cut. It also would add some improvement to transit connections, as well as a reversible HOV lane connecting to Interstate 5.

It also would include lids over the freeway at McCurdy Park and at 10th Avenue East and Delmar Drive East. The project is estimated to cost $4.5-$4.6 billion, with completion scheduled for 2014.

Still uncertain is how the state will fully pay for the project. Several financing options will be included in the panel’s report.

On Tuesday, the public is invited to a town hall meeting at The Center for Urban Horticulture at 3501 N.E. 41st St. at the University of Washington, where officials plan to take public comments. The meeting is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Seattle City Council was briefed on the proposal during a Tuesday morning meeting.

On Monday, the King County Council formally endorsed the plan, or what’s been dubbed “Option A-plus”. In a statement, Councilmember Jane Hague, of Bellevue, said: “Keeping costs down, relieving traffic congestion and protecting the arboretum must be priorities for the 520 bridge replacement.”

The plan was selected after consideration of three main proposals because it was the least expensive and had the smallest environmental impact, said state lawmakers who were on the panel.

Other proposals would have shifted the location of the interchange east to near the site of the Museum of History and Industry. The most expensive option included a tunnel underneath the Montlake Cut to route vehicles from the interchange to Pacific Avenue. While there was some support for that proposal, including from House Speaker Frank Chopp, it would have added another $2 billion to the cost and likely faced hurdles in the permitting process.

“It didn’t look like we’d be able to afford it,” said state Rep. Judy Clibborn, the House Transportation committee chair and Mercer Island Democrat. “And I think there was a realization that we needed to move forward.”

The existing bridge was built in 1963 but now carries twice as many vehicles as intended. Most concerning is that it is vulnerable to windstorms and earthquakes. But discussions and debate have lasted for years over its replacement.

For the last few years, state transportation officials have been working with groups in neighborhoods such as Montlake, Ravenna, the University District, as well the University of Washington and transit agencies in assembling a plan that minimizes effects on streets, neighborhoods, the arboretum, natural habitats. This year, the Legislature created the work group, a panel of key lawmakers and state transportation officials, to assemble a report on a preferred option and financing plan.

“There were several members of the work group who recognized a coalition had formed around the A-plus option and the financial feasibility and environmental sensibility of the A-plus option and recognized this was the most likely one to get us some progress on this project,” said state Rep. Scott White, D-Seattle, who chaired a Westside subgroup.

The state is still about $2.6 billion short of the estimated price tag. The most expensive portion is the Seattle side of the segment, which runs from Interstate 90 over Portage Pay and through Montlake, the arboretum and Foster Island before connecting with the floating bridge across Lake Washington.

In addition to forming the work group, the state Legislature authorized early tolling on 520, which allowed the state to move forward with early-stage construction of the future bridge’s pontoons. The state is planning to set up electronic tolling, although the system may not be ready until June 2011.

In a draft resolution, the work group recommends the state also put High Occupancy Toll lanes on Interstate 90, which allows drivers to pay toll rates to travel in the carpool lane. The state also is seeking federal stimulus money and considering options such as a vehicle licensing fee or tax.

The panel’s resolution says that if funding falls short, than the state should toll all lanes of I-90 as a last resort. Rep. White said the plan will be reviewed again for more potential cost-savings.

Note: This is a seattlepi.com reader blog. It is not written or edited by the P-I. The authors are solely responsible for content. E-mail us at newmedia@seattlepi.com if you consider a post inappropriate.